Goodbye Irene

Mathews contractor David Jones surveys the damage at the Hallieford Road home of Ole and Susan Albert on Sunday afternoon. Ole Albert was on duty at the Middlesex Volunteer Rescue Squad a little after 1 p.m. on Saturday when the power went out at his home; a few minutes later, this pine tree came crashing down on a bedroom. Albert said his daughter was opening the bedroom door when the tree fell and she saw the tree land. Amazingly, no one was hurt and Alberts’ dogs were safe in the nearby utility room. Fortunately, scenes of destruction like this from Hurricane Irene were rare in the Gloucester-Mathews area. Photo by Charlie Koenig.

Hurricane Irene wasn’t all headaches for everyone. Some made the best out of the situation and found enjoyment from the heavy rainfall the storm brought. From left, Erin Kulp, Kaydin Powell, Logan Powell and Heaven Lamb play in the water at Sarah’s Cove Road, Bena. Photo by Quinton Sheppard.

In Gloucester

by Quinton Sheppard

Most Middle Peninsula residents seemed to fare pretty well during Hurricane Irene Saturday. Up and down Route 17 early Sunday morning, residents in Gloucester were seen heading out on the roadways to assess the damages in their communities.

Lines at fast-food restaurants were stretching out toward the main road with residents who’d lost power seeking a hot breakfast.

Garrey Curry, interim emergency management coordinator for Gloucester, said an estimated total damage loss in Gloucester from Irene was $1,005,000 as of Wednesday morning. This includes varying impacts to 64 single-family homes, one manufactured home, five businesses and one non-profit organization.

Curry said there was very little damage to public structures. However, some damage was reported at the Gloucester Point fishing pier and boat landing.

"We were blessed in a lot of ways," said Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department fire chief J.D. Clements, referring to earlier forecasts that showed Irene packing much more of a punch than she eventually did. He said rescue officials only responded to one call, an incident on Ware House Road, where a tree fell on a van.